Patents by Inventor Bjoern Heismann

Bjoern Heismann has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9747702
    Abstract: In a method and magnetic resonance apparatus for acquiring a high-resolution magnetic resonance image dataset of at least one limited body region having at least one anatomical structure of a patient, an overview image dataset is first acquired, using which an item of position information of the at least one anatomical structure is ascertained, the item of position information designating an exact position of the at least one anatomical structure and/or a relative position of the at least one anatomical structure relative to the reference body region. A high-resolution magnetic resonance image dataset of the anatomical structure is then created using the position information and the high-resolution magnetic resonance image dataset is evaluated. The evaluated high-resolution image data is then made available in electronic form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Bjoern Heismann
  • Patent number: 9739856
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for acquiring magnetic resonance data, a resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging sequence is executed in alternation with a morphological data acquisition sequence. The alternating sequences are executed with no time interruptions therebetween, with at least one repetition of the alternating sequences. The resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging sequence can be a BOLD-EPI sequence, and the morphological imaging sequence can be an MPRAGE sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignees: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Presidents and Fellows of Harvard College
    Inventors: Randy Buckner, Bjoern Heismann, Arne Hengerer
  • Patent number: 9726740
    Abstract: In a method for an accelerated progression of a repeating pulse sequence with an optimized gradient curve (that has at least one pulse) for a magnetic resonance examination by operation of a magnetic resonance apparatus, boundary conditions for a first gradient pulse of a first progression of the pulse sequence are detected, and the boundary conditions of the first gradient pulse of the first progression of the pulse sequence are compared with boundary conditions of a previous gradient pulse of a previous progression of the pulse sequence. An optimized gradient curve of the first gradient pulse of the first progression of the pulse sequence is determined from the gradient curve of the previous gradient pulse when agreement of the boundary conditions of the first gradient pulse with the boundary conditions of the previous gradient pulse exists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: David Grodzki, Bjoern Heismann
  • Publication number: 20170192071
    Abstract: A method for determining a change over time in a biomarker in a region to be examined of a patient is provided. The change is determined from magnetic resonance data using a magnetic resonance measuring system with sequences and protocols for measuring the biomarkers by functional resting state connectivity by rsfMRI, perfusion values, magnetic resonance spectra of voxels, or morphometry of organs. A control unit has programs which evaluates the biomarker and a data memory which stores the results of the evaluation and additional data. During a first examination, a quantity result of the biomarkers is determined and stored in the data memory. During a follow-up examination, at least one previous item of the result and additional data from the first examination stored in the data memory are used for determining a quantitative change in the biomarker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Applicant: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Björn HEISMANN, Arne HENGERER, Sebastian SCHMIDT
  • Patent number: 9684048
    Abstract: In a method and a pulse sequence optimization device to determine a pulse sequence for a magnetic resonance system, a pulse sequence is selected for optimization that includes a number of radio-frequency pulses and a number of gradient pulses chronologically coordinated therewith. An automatic analysis of the pulse sequence takes place to identify fixed point/time periods in the pulse sequence that are to be left unmodified, and modifiable time intervals in the pulse sequence that may be optimized. An automatic optimization of gradient pulses in the modifiable time intervals takes place according to a predetermined optimization criterion, while keeping the length of modifiable time intervals constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: David Grodzki, Bjoern Heismann
  • Patent number: 9651639
    Abstract: A method for determining a change over time in a biomarker in a region to be examined of a patient is provided. The change is determined from magnetic resonance data using a magnetic resonance measuring system with sequences and protocols for measuring the biomarkers by functional resting state connectivity by rsfMRI, perfusion values, magnetic resonance spectra of voxels, or morphometry of organs. A control unit has programs which evaluates the biomarker and a data memory which stores the results of the evaluation and additional data. During a first examination, a quantity result of the biomarkers is determined and stored in the data memory. During a follow-up examination, at least one previous item of the result and additional data from the first examination stored in the data memory are used for determining a quantitative change in the biomarker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS HEALTHCARE GmbH
    Inventors: Björn Heismann, Arne Hengerer, Sebastian Schmidt
  • Patent number: 9645216
    Abstract: A method and a measuring-sequence-determining device for determining a measuring sequence for a magnetic resonance system based on at least one intra-repetition-interval time parameter are provided. During the determination of the measuring sequence in a gradient-optimization method, gradient-pulse parameters of the measuring sequence are automatically optimized to reduce at least one gradient-pulse-parameter maximum value. As a boundary condition in the gradient-optimization method, the intra-repetition-interval time parameter is kept constant at least within a specified tolerance value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Björn Heismann, Mathias Nittka, Peter Speier, Aurélien Stalder
  • Patent number: 9632160
    Abstract: In a method and a pulse sequence determination device to determine a pulse sequence for a magnetic resonance system, control protocol parameter values are initially acquired. A determination of k-space trajectory node points within k-space then takes place in a processor on the basis of the control protocol parameter values. The determination of the pulse sequence then takes place on the basis of the k-space trajectory node points. A method for operating a magnetic resonance system uses such a pulse sequence, and a magnetic resonance system embodies such a pulse sequence determination device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: David Grodzki, Bjoern Heismann
  • Patent number: 9581664
    Abstract: A local coil system for a magnetic resonance imaging system and a magnetic resonance imaging system include a local coil. The local coil includes a pressure element that may be filled with a fluid, and a controllable fluid supply device that at least at the imposition of the local coil to the object under examination and/or during the operation of the local coil, is coupled to the pressure element. The controllable fluid supply device is embodied such that the pressure of the pressure elements attained with the aid of the fluid, imposed on the object under examination may be changed, at least area by area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Björn Heismann
  • Patent number: 9572493
    Abstract: A method, a computer program product and a computer-readable storage medium are disclosed for displaying signal values of a combined magnetic resonance positron emission tomography device. In at least one embodiment, the spatial correspondence of signal values, which result from a magnetic resonance measurement, and of signal values, which result from a positron emission tomography measurement, are used and the corresponding signal values are arranged in matrix form and displayed graphically as a multi-dimensional scatter plot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Matthias Fenchel, Björn Heismann, Kirstin Jattke, Ralf Ladebeck, Sebastian Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20170027530
    Abstract: In method for specifying an examination environment for a medical imaging examination, conducted by means of a medical imaging apparatus, at least one environment parameter of the examination environment of the medical imaging examination is selected by the patient via a selection unit that is accessible by the patient in the medical imaging apparatus. The at least one selected environment parameter is transferred to an environment adjustment processor, that specifies the examination environment on the basis of the at least one environment parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Applicant: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventor: Bjoern Heismann
  • Publication number: 20170016971
    Abstract: A method and a magnetic resonance tomography system are provided. The magnetic resonance tomography system is activated for transmitting a gradient field by an amplifier and a control with a gradient signal for creating the gradient field. The magnetic resonance tomography system includes a number of transmit segments activated for simultaneous transmission of radio-frequency pulses in each case of one or of a number of different frequencies by an amplifier and a control to excite a region in an examination object in each case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Inventor: Björn Heismann
  • Patent number: 9492107
    Abstract: A medical imaging apparatus includes a detector unit, a patient-receiving region enclosed by the detector unit in a cylindrical manner, and a movement detection unit. The movement detection unit has at least one acceleration sensor unit to detect movement of a patient. the at least one acceleration sensor unit has a fastening element to fasten the at least one acceleration sensor unit to a subregion of the patient relevant to a medical imaging examination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Björn Heismann
  • Publication number: 20160283659
    Abstract: The embodiments relate to a method for operation of a medical imaging device and a medical imaging device, a contrast medium administration unit and a computer program product. According to the method, a clinical request is provided, on the basis of which operating information is determined for the medical imaging device by a computer unit. An indication-driven at least partially automated conversion of information is proposed, in particular, a conversion of referral requests into an imaging procedure, and conversely, an adaptation of the imaging results to expectations of the referrer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Inventors: David Grodzki, Björn Heismann
  • Patent number: 9439618
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for generating a PET or SPECT image dataset. In an embodiment, the method includes acquiring a plurality of PET or SPECT measurement signals from an examination region; acquiring a plurality of anatomy image datasets that show the examination region using a second imaging modality at the same time as acquiring the PET or SPECT measurement signals; determining the similarity of a reference anatomy image dataset acquired at a time point t? using the second imaging modality to at least one anatomy image dataset acquired at a different time point and/or predetermining a temporal weighting function; and generating a PET or SPECT image dataset taking into account the similarity of the anatomy image datasets and/or weighting the PET measurement signals temporally. A hybrid imaging modality is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Björn Heismann
  • Publication number: 20160140293
    Abstract: A method and a device for protocol adjustment for medical imaging, and a medical imaging device and a computer program product for carrying out the method, wherein the method includes providing a location-specific feature of an imaging device, ascertaining at least one location-dependent protocol boundary condition from a comparison with at least one database, and creating at least one protocol adjusted to the at least one location-dependent protocol boundary condition. At least one of the providing, ascertaining, or creating occurs automatically.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventors: David Grodzki, Björn Heismann
  • Patent number: 9320454
    Abstract: In a magnetic resonance (MR) method and system to generate a series of MR images to monitor the position of an interventional device located in an examination region, radial scanning of k-space is combined with other scans, in particular for the k-space center. The measurement time until the entirety of k-space corresponding to the imaging region is scanned is thereby markedly shortened in total. The short echo times that are possible with this reduce susceptibility artifacts in the reconstructed image data and enable a depiction of tissue or substances with very short T2 values, for example plastics. Due to the rapidly repeated excitation and acquisition of measurement data and the reconstruction of image data, it is possible to monitor a position of the intervention device in the examination region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: David Grodzki, Bjoern Heismann, Sebastian Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20160093072
    Abstract: In a method and magnetic resonance apparatus for acquiring a high-resolution magnetic resonance image dataset of at least one limited body region having at least one anatomical structure of a patient, an overview image dataset is first acquired, using which an item of position information of the at least one anatomical structure is ascertained, the item of position information designating an exact position of the at least one anatomical structure and/or a relative position of the at least one anatomical structure relative to the reference body region. A high-resolution magnetic resonance image dataset of the anatomical structure is then created using the position information and the high-resolution magnetic resonance image dataset is evaluated. The evaluated high-resolution image data is then made available in electronic form.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Bjoern Heismann
  • Publication number: 20160082285
    Abstract: An applicator apparatus for performing brachytherapy and/or magnetic resonance imaging has an application main body for receiving at least one radiation source, and at least one antenna element connected to the application main body as a reception unit for a magnetic resonance device. The applicator apparatus can also include a processing module for a preamplification and/or digitization, the processing module being radiation-resistant and embodied to be separably connected to the antenna element, and the antenna element includes at least one part of the application main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: David GRODZKI, Annemarie HAUSOTTE, Bjoern HEISMANN, Arne HENGERER, Mark Aleksi KELLER-REICHENBECHER, Sebastian SCHMIDT
  • Publication number: 20160086330
    Abstract: Periodic movement of an object, for example a tumor, is determined on the basis of 4D MRI images. A radiation source can be controlled (guided) as a function of the periodic movement of the object, thus enabling the compilation of a more efficient treatment plan with respect to time and radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: DAVID GRODZKI, ANNEMARIE HAUSOTTE, BJOERN HEISMANN, ARNE HENGERER, MARK ALEKSI KELLER-REICHENBECHER, SEBASTIAN SCHMIDT